Local DECA student running for organization’s regional v.p.

Steele High School senior Brian Vandenberg first joined the school’s DECA club at a teacher’s suggestion because he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do about a career.

Now, Vandenberg says DECA has helped him settle on a college and career path. He’s running for a position as a regional vice president of the marketing club in an election that will be decided by delegates at a conference next month.

Vandenberg, 18, credits DECA with influencing his decision to study business administration at Brigham Young University after he finishes high school this year.

“You compete in business related activities and, as a football player, I love competition,” said Vandenberg, who also hopes to earn an MBA. “It was the perfect transition for me.”

If Vandenberg is elected regional vice president, he would carry out his duties during his freshman year of college, which is a typical scenario, according to the Steele club’s faculty sponsor, Calee Beissner. The job would include oversight of state officers, planning for growth of the organization and some public relations duties, she said.

“Brian’s just one of those kind of all-American good kids — star football player, really smart,” Beissner said. “Just a really good kid.”